Has anyone attempted to bring a dog back from Iraq? I'm not looking at doing it but the question came up in conversation.

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 12:41:42 -0400

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2016 12:47 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 12:47:37 -0400

Yes, one of the Airmen I served with was able to bring a civilian dog back. IT cost a heck of a lot and Tripod stayed in holding for quite a long time.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jun 2 at 2016 1:01 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 13:01:01 -0400

I've heard of it but it doesn't sound like an easy process.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2016 1:18 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 13:18:09 -0400

I know there is an organization called Operation Bagdad Pups which is supposed to help bring the dogs back to the US but I don't know the process.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2016 1:21 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 13:21:00 -0400

Why would anyone do that

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2016 1:28 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 13:28:10 -0400

I wareallwanted to but back then we were forbidden to even touch local animals

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2016 3:49 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 15:49:47 -0400

There have been cases that people brought dogs from Iraq but they were service dog. http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/michigan-soldier-reunited-with-service-dog-after-4-years-apart

Michigan soldier reunited with service dog after 4 years apart

His dog Cena was always ahead of the pack, sniffing out danger -- specifically IEDs.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2016 5:13 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 17:13:24 -0400

I myself have not, but do know of someone that has done it. So it is or was possible.

Response by SFC Roberto Garza Jr. made Jun 2 at 2016 5:20 PM

SFC Roberto Garza Jr. — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 17:20:41 -0400

Never tried it or wanted to but have heard of it happening.

Response by SSG Matthew Nechy made Jun 2 at 2016 8:33 PM

SSG Matthew Nechy — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 20:33:15 -0400

I had an LT bring a dog back from Iraq.

Response by SSG Richard Reilly made Jun 3 at 2016 10:36 AM

SSG Richard Reilly — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 10:36:59 -0400

Thinking having a dog is against a General Order... And I do know one guy that organized it through a rescue service. But he was also stealing money and was arrested.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 3 at 2016 10:55 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 10:55:38 -0400

We couldn't bring a damn thing back from Iraq. NOTHING.

Response by SGT Tracey "Tra" Cooper-Harris made Jun 4 at 2016 10:52 AM

SGT Tracey "Tra" Cooper-Harris — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 10:52:31 -0400

I know that we weren't allowed to touch or associate with animals over there because of rabies.

But...

You know how Americans love dogs. And the animals over there know it. If you have a sympathetic command, there are organizations that can help. Puppy Rescue Mission and Nowzad are 2 organizations that help our military bring back dogs they befriended and cared for in Afghanistan.

http://www.nowzad.org/
http://www.puppyrescuemission.com/

Nowzad | Rescuing stray and abandoned animals in Afghanistan

The original aim of the charity was to support serving soldiers on the front lines of Afghanistan rescue the companion animals they had adopted during their arduous tour of duty. To date we have now assisted over 800 soldiers serving in Afghanistan to be reunited back in their home countries (USA, UK, Canada, Italy, South Africa, Australia, Holland and Germany) with the dog or cat that adopted them since our formation as Nowzad the non profit...

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Jun 6 at 2016 10:56 PM

SSG Carlos Madden — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 22:56:54 -0400

I have not but one of the soldiers in our unit did it.

Response by MSG Scott O'Hagan made Jun 7 at 2016 10:44 AM

MSG Scott O'Hagan — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 10:44:18 -0400

Can be done but I know there's a lot a loops to go through

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2016 4:21 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 04:21:26 -0400

Why go thru all that pain when there are a lot of pets waiting for adoption in the mainland? It is a lot of paperwork and in most cases the CDR has to approve. We were not even allowed to have dogs or cats in our COP in Afghanistan. There was a case in Fort Drum about a Soldier which died from rabies who was bitten in Afghanistan; why take the risk?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2016 7:53 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 19:53:04 -0400

My warrant came back with a dog from Jordan. I have no clue how or why but this happened at the end of 2015.

Response by SSG John Jensen made Jun 20 at 2016 1:26 AM

SSG John Jensen — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 01:26:38 -0400

Watching the Bastille Day parade in France on TV, French Military Dogs in the parade all had yellow scarves around their necks with their medals pinned to them. We are are doing it so wrong.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2016 11:07 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 11:07:27 -0400

There is an organization that helps with this. http://spcai.org/get-involved/military-support/obp-worldwide/

SPCAI :: Operation Baghdad Pups: Worldwide

Response by LTC Sonya Friday made Jul 13 at 2016 11:34 AM

LTC Sonya Friday — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 11:34:56 -0400

I never knew anyone who did and I concur with SGT Cooper-Harris we were not allowed to touch or associate with the animals. However I did find something on the state department website that may assist anyone thinking about doing this. Hope this helps.

http://www.state.gov/m/fsi/tc/c10442.htm

Pets and International Travel